Participation in Dubai’s Expo 2020 ‘part of foreign policy outreach to Middle East’
The Government’s participation in the Expo 2020 in Dubai is part of the Christie administration’s foreign policy outreach to the Middle East, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, who noted that the aim is to ultimately attract foreign capital and market the nation as a tourist destination.
Businesses braced for stormy weather
Businesses and residents in the southern Bahamas are bracing themselves for the possibility that a strong tropical wave expected to pass over The Bahamas becomes a serious threat, with one private sector representative telling this newspaper: “We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation as with Joaquin”.
Tourism: No Zika cancellations yet
The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) yesterday said it had received no reports of booking cancellations as a result of the Zika outbreak, despite travel and health advisories issued by this nation’s two key visitor markets.
CCA ‘fired my wife when I served writ’
The only Bahamian contractor known to have taken legal action against China Construction America (CCA) for Baha Mar non-payment yesterday said he was left “heartbroken” when it fired his wife “the same day” the writ was served.
Unions threaten ‘shut down’ over Sandals
The Bahamas’ two leading trade unions bodies joined forces yesterday to warn they will “shut the country down” with a repeat of the 1958 General Strike, unless the Prime Minister meets with them in the next 48 hours to resolve the Sandals situation.
NHI insurance tender ‘skewed’ against locals
The Bahamas Insurance Association’s (BIA) chairman yesterday argued that the bid document for the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme’s public insurer is “skewed” in favour of foreign companies.
New mobile player hits ‘record’ pace
The Bahamas’ second mobile operator yesterday boasted that it was moving at “record” pace to roll-out its network, having already built more than 90 per cent of its planned cellular towers in Grand Bahama.
‘We’re no longer the best owner’ for Bahamian bank
A Swiss financial group has sold its 85 per cent majority stake in Nassau-based Private Investment Bank (PIB), conceding that it “might no longer be the best owner” for the institution.
No agreement details until Baha Mar sold
The Opposition’s deputy leader yesterday questioned what was “so sensitive” in the agreement for Baha Mar’s construction completion that required the court file to be sealed, amid indications full details will not be revealed until the project has been sold.
Major issues affecting insurance industry ‘largely ignored’
Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) chairman Emmanuel Komolafe said yesterday that, while changes to the insurance legislation are being driven by the push to roll out National Health Insurance (NHI), it is “disappointing” that other major issues impacting the industry and requiring revisions to the Insurance Act and Regulations have been largely ignored.
Bahamas ‘losing out’ on film opportunities
This nation has been “losing out” on the opportunity to tap into the multi-billion film industry having failed to offer incentives necessary to attract big budget productions, Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool said yesterday.
Baha Mar creditors: Over 90 per cent to be paid
Baha Mar’s secured creditor agreed to fund the $3.5 billion project’s completion because potential purchasers have told it they will not buy an unfinished mega resort, with more than 90 per cent of local creditors set to be paid.
Moody’s backs IMF over $100m fiscal deficit overshoot
Moody’s yesterday backed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) prediction that the Bahamas’ 2015-2016 fiscal deficit is set to overshoot the Government’s estimate by around $100 million.
Bran ‘concerned’ taxpayers to fund Baha Mar payouts
The DNA’s leader yesterday said he was “very concerned” that Bahamian taxpayers will ultimately be landed with the multi-million dollar bill for compensating Baha Mar’s creditors via the tax incentives granted to the Chinese.
Contractors not joining ‘celebration bandwagon’ over Baha Mar deal yet
Bahamian contractors yesterday said they were “not joining this bandwagon of celebration” over the Government’s Baha Mar agreement just yet, amid suggestions contracts held directly with the former developer may not be honoured.
